Comparison of Abshaper and conventionally performed abdominal exercises using surface electromyography

Purpose: Many commercially available pieces of abdominal exercise equipment have been introduced to facilitate endurance training of the abdominal mus culature. One of the latest devices is the Abshaper. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is any difference between abdominal exerci ses performed while using the Abshaper compared with those performed conven tionally. Methods: Using surface electromyography (EMG), the upper and lowe r regions of rectus abdominis (RA), the external oblique (EO), and sternocl eidomastoid (SCM) muscles of 22 first-year physical therapy students were a ssessed. Each participant performed five straight trunk curls and five side trunk curls both with the Abshaper and conventionally. To test for differe nces in relative peak and mean EMG activity between the two modes of exerci se execution, paired t-tests (alpha = 0.05) were performed. Differences in the average time percentile at which peak EMG activity occurred were assess ed by repeated measures ANOVA (cr = 0.05). Results: Exercises performed whi le using the Abshaper resulted in significantly greater relative peak and m ean EMG activity within the upper portion of RA. For both the lower portion of RA and the EO muscles, no differences were found between the two modes of exercise execution. For SCM, Abshaper exercises resulted in significantl y lower relative peak and mean EMG activity. In respect to the timing of pe ak EMG activity, no difference was found between the two modes of exercise execution for either the upper portion of RA, the EO, or SCM muscles. For l ower RA, peak EMG activity occurred significantly earlier during convention al abdominal exercises in comparison with those performed while using the A bshaper. Conclusions: The Abshaper has a role in exercising the abdominal m usculature.